Paperboard basket structure for fruit and the like



C. H. KEITH Jan, 31, 1961 PAPERBOARD BASKET STRUCTURE FOR FRUIT AND THELIKE Filed Sept. 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ".aaaa.

INVENTOR.

H. KE/ TH CLIFFORD A T TO RNE V6 C. H. KEITH Jan, 31, 1961 PAPERBOARDBASKET STRUCTURE FOR FRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 18, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet 2 a R 5 m if 4 W l. l ww 8 3 1 I H a 2 ML BY CLIP/0&0 KEITHATTORNEV$ C. H. KEITH Jan. 31, 1961 PAPERBOARD BASKET STRUCTURE FORFRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR rranoH. KEITH mafia ATTORNEYS United States PatentG a PAPERBOARD BASKETSTRUCTURE FOR FRUIT AND THE LIKE Clifford H. Keith, Miami, Fla.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Mead Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 18, 1957, Ser. No. 684,698

Claims. (Cl. 229-16) This invention relates to baskets of the typeemployed for packing fruit or other produce and the like, and moreparticularly to an improved basket structure of this sort that is formedentirely of paperboard and that is collapsibly arranged to allow thebasket structure to be blanked and preformed in collapsed position forconvenient shipping and storage when empty, while being easily andrapidly set up to erect position when ready for use without requiringany securing operation whatever in the course of erection.

These and other features of the present invention are described infurther detail below, in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a paperboard basket structure embodyingthe present invention and shown optionally fitted with a separate linerstructure of corresponding form nested therein;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional detail taken substantially on the line22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the form of blank employed for the basketstructure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a corresponding plan view showing the basket structurepreformed in collapsed position from the blank illustrated in Fig. 3;and

Fig. 5 is a further perspective view illustrating the manner in whichthe basket structure is erected from the collapsed form illustrated inFig. 4.

The basket structure of the present invention as illustrated in Figs. 1and 2 is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, and theseparate optional liner structure by the reference numeral Thepaperboard basket structure 10 comprises, as seen most completely inFig. 3, a bottom wall panel 12 that is preferably hexagonal in form andthat is medially foldable across corners thereof along a score line 14.Alternatively, the bottom wall panel 12 might have any symmetricalpolygonal form in which the number of.

sides total two plus a multiple of four.

At each side edge of the bottom wall 12 a liner panel 16, 18, 20, 22, 24and 26 isfoldably hinged, with the pair of liner panels 16 and 22 at theopposed side edges of bottom wall panel 12 that are parallel with themedial score line 14 therein also being medially foldable at parallelaxes along score lines 28 and 30.

At the respective edges of each medially foldable liner panel 16 and 22,opposite the bottom wall panel 12, a foldably hinged series of side wallpanels 32, 3'4, and 36, and 38, 40 and 42 are foldably hinged at themiddle panel 34 and 40 of each series. The total number of side wallpanels 32 to 46 correspond to the number of liner panels 16 to 26, andthe middle side wall panels 34 and 40 are preferably hinged on themedially foldable liner panels 16 and 22 at double score lines 44 and 46to facilitate erection of the basket structure 10 and strengthen theerected structure as explained further below. In addition, one terminalside wall panel 32 and 38 of each series, at complementary positions inthe respective series,

2,969,903 Patented Jan. 31, 1961 have foldable securing flaps 48 and 50formed thereon; and at least one opposed pair of the liner panels thatare not medially foldable, such as 18 and 24, or 20 and 26, and thecorresponding side wall panels 32 and 38, and 42 and 36, areadvantageously formed with handle means as indicated at 52, 54, 56, 58,60, 62, 64 and 66.

The paperboard blank for the basket structure 10 as illustrated in Fig.3 is preferably formed of corrugated paperboard with the corrugationsrunning parallel with the medial folding axis of the bottom wall panel12, as indicated in Fig. 3, and consequently extending angularly in andthereby additionally stiffening a majority of the liner panels 18, 20,24 and 26. Also, all of the liner panels 16 to 26 are preferably formedaccording to the present invention with a taper toward the foldablyhinged edges thereof at the bottom wall panel 12, and the respectiveside wall panels 32 to 42 are formed coextensively, so that thestiffening effect of the angularly extending corrugations is carriedinto the corresponding side wall panels 32, 36, 38 and 42 as well, andthe tapering form of the liner and side wall panels provides a wedgedsupporting action for the bottom wall panel 12 in the erected basketstructure 10 as is also pointed out further below.

Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrates the manner in which the blank of Fig.4 may be folded and secured to preform the basket structure 10 incollapsed position. For this purpose, the blank of Fig. 3 is folded atthe medial bottom wall score line 14 to double the bottom wall panel 12upon itself and to arrange the respective liner panels 16 to 26 and sidewall panels 32 to 42 at opposite sides of the medial bottom wall foldline 14 in face to face relation, whereupon the flap members 48 and 50on the side wall panels 32 and 38 may be secured by stapling or the liketo the respective face to face adjacent side wall panels 36 and 42 andthereby form an endless foldably hinged series including all of the sidewall panels 32 to 42. In this collapsed Fig. 4 form, the basketstructure 10 may be compactly arranged in a supply stack for shipment.to and storage by the ultimate user until ready for use, at which timethe ultimate user is required only to fold the collapsedbasket structure10 to erect position for use without having to secure the structure inany way to maintain it erect.

The manner in which the collapsed Fig. 4 form of the basket structure 10may be set up to erect position is illustrated in Fig. 5 as consistingsimply of opening the endless series of side wall panels 22 to 42 andinserting the medially folded bottom wall panel 12 therein with theliner panels 18, 20, 24 and 26 disposed in inwardly folded relation overthe medially folded bottom wall panel 12 and then opening the bottomwall panel 12 into place and disposing all of the liner panels 16 to 26at the inner faces of the respective side wall panels 32 to 42. Duringthis setting up operation, the medially foldable liner panels 16 and 22give sufficiently at the medial folds 28 and 30 therein to allow easymanipulation of the bottom wall panel 12 into place, and the doublescores 44 and 46 at which the medially foldable liner panels 16 and 22are foldably hinged on the side wall panels 34 and 40 result inproviding a pronounced abutment disposition for the side edges of themedially foldable liner panels 16 and 22 at which the remaining linerpanels 18, 2t], 24 and 26 may be wedged effectively for supporting thebottom wall panel 12.

When desired, a corresponding form of separate liner structure 10 may bereadily provided for nesting within the basket structure 10, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the corresponding elements of theliner structure 10' that may be seen are indicated by correspondingprimed reference numerals. Also, the basket structure 10 of the presentinvention, Whether or not provided with a separate corresponding linerstructure may be provided with any suitable form of lid structure (notshown) when desired.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes ofillustration only and is not intended to be limited by this descriptionor otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

'I claim:

1.. A paperboard basket structure of the character described comprisingan hexagonal bottom wall panel medially foldable across corners thereof,a liner panel foldably hinged at each side edge of said hexagonal bottomwall panel, the pair of liner panels at the opposed side edges'of saidbottom wall panel parallel with the medial .folding axis thereof alsobeing medially foldable at a parallel axis and having coextensive sidewall panels foldably hinged at the opposite edges thereof, andadditional side wall .panels "foldably hinged at the opposite side edgesof each of said first mentioned side wall panels 'and'respectivelyconnected foldably and thereby forming an endless series including allof said side wall panels, whereby said basket structure may be disposedin collapsed .form with said bottom wall panel medially folded and therespective liner and side wall panels at opposite sides of the medialfold therein arranged in face-to-face relation, and whereby said basketstructure may be set up from said collapsed form to an erect form byopening said endless side wall panel series and inserting said mediallyfolded bottom Wall panel "therein with all of the liner panels exceptsaid medially foldable pair disposed in inwardly folded relation oversaid medially folded bottom wall panel and then opening said bottom wallgpan'el into place and disposing said liner panels at the in- .ner facesof the respective'side wall panels.

2. A paperboard blank for forming a basket structure of the characterdescribed, said blank comprising a mediallyfoldable bottom wall panel, apair of liner panels fo'ldably hinged at opposite side edges of saidbottom wall panel parallel to the medial folding axis thereof and alsomedially foldable at a parallel axis, at least four additional linerpanels foldably hinged at the remaining perimeter of 'said bottom wallpanel .in symmetrical relation with respect to the medial folding axisthereof, a pair of side wall panels foldably hinged respectively on saidpair of liner panels at the edges thereof opposite said bottom wallpanel, and at least two additional side wall panels foldably hinged inseries with each side wall panel of said pair at opposite edges thereof.

3. A paperboard blank as defined in claim 2 and further characterized inthat one of said additional side wall panels on each of said pair ofside wall panels and in complementary relation thereto have securingflaps formed thereon for foldably connecting all of said side wallpanels in an endless series.

4. A paperboard basket structure of the character described comprisingsix side wall panels foldably connected in a continuous hexagonal serieswith an opposed pair of said side wall panels having coextensive linerpanels foldably hinged at 'the't'o'p edges and disposed at the innerfaces thereof, each of said liner panels having a medial fold lineparallel to its top edge, a hexagonal bottom wall panel foldably hingedbetween the lower edges of said liner panels and being medially foldableacross corners along an axis parallel with said lower edges of saidliner panels with the :liner panels and bottom panel arranged so thatupon folding of the bottom panel along said medial fold line the linerpanels and bottom panel may be repositioned out or the enclosure of thesidewall panels without disconnecting the -continuous 'seri'eso'f sidewall panels, and four additional liner panels fol'da'bly hinged at theirlower edges 'on said' bottom wall panel and disposed coextensively atthe respective inner faces of the remaining side wall panels -of saidseries, whereby said basket structure may be disposed in collapsed formwith said bottom wall panel medially folded and the respective liner andsidewall panels at opposite sides of the medial fold therein arranged inface-'to-faceirelation, and whereby said basket structure may be setupfrom said -'collapsed form to an erect form by opening --said continuoussidewall panel series and insertingsaidmedially folded bottom wall paneland liner panels therein and then opening said bottomwall'panelintoplaeeiand disposing said liner panels at 'theinnerface's'of the respective side wall panels.

5. A paperboard blank forforming a basket E'structure of the charaet'erdescribed, said -blank comprising ahex'agon'al bottom wall panelmedially :fo-ldable across the corners thereof, a pair of opposed linerpanels foldably hingedat the opposedlside edges to-f said :bottom wallpanel parallel *with the medial folding axis thereof, a pair of opposedside wall panels foldably hinged to said pair :of liner panels at therespective edges thereof opposite-said bottom wall panel, -'-and fouradditional side wall panels foldably hinged to at least one side edge ofat :least one of said pair of :side wall panels, said .pair of side wallpanels and said four additional side wall :panels being foldable to forma continuous series of .six panels with the medial fold line of thebottom panel permitting folding of the bottom panel and liner panelsinto and out of the enclosure of said continuous series withoutdisconneoting the series, each of said pair of liner panels at theopposed side edges of said bottom wall panel parallel with the medialfolding 'axis thereof being also medially folded at an axis parallel tosaid bottom wall medial folding axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,820,523 Augustin et al Aug. 25,, 1931 2,074,314 Fleischer 'Mar. 16,1937 2,165,900 Reich July 11,1939

FOREIGN PATENTS 202,503 Great Britain Aug. "23, 1923 231,119 GreatBritain Mar. 26, 1925

